The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and biodiversity hotspot in India, has been flagged by the IUCN as a site of “significant concern” due to threats from climate change, tourism, hydropower projects, and invasive species. Home to over 325 globally threatened species, the Ghats face habitat loss, wildlife conflicts, and ecosystem disruptions. Urgent conservation measures, community involvement, and sustainable development are needed to protect this vital natural heritage.
Click to View MoreIndia rose to 9th globally in total forest area and retained 3rd in annual forest gain, driven by large-scale afforestation, community-led initiatives like 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam,' and strong state efforts, contributing to Asia's forest expansion and slowing global deforestation.
Click to View MoreHygrocybe pellucida, a rare waxcup fungus, has been found for the first time in Telangana's Kawal Tiger Reserve, extending its known range from Kerala. This discovery signifies the existence of undisturbed habitats and emphasizes the importance of preserving India's fungal biodiversity.
Click to View MoreIUCN's Motion 042 declares fossil fuels a direct threat to nature, urging a just, global phase-out and backing a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This resolution aims to unite climate and biodiversity goals, prioritize Indigenous voices, and accelerate global action for COP30.
Click to View MoreCarbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a technology designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industrial sources and power plants and store it underground to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CCS can help mitigate emissions; it faces challenges such as high costs, energy intensity, potential leakage risks, and limited application mostly to large industrial emitters.
Click to View MoreIn Kerala’s hilly regions, human-wildlife conflict is shifting from large predators to smaller animals like macaques, squirrels, and wild boars, which cause significant crop damage. This change is driven by habitat loss, agricultural expansion, invasive species, and changing cropping patterns. The conflict leads to economic losses, threats to human safety, and reduced support for conservation.
Click to View MoreIndia added Bihar’s Gokul Jalashay and Udaipur Jheel as Ramsar Sites, raising the total to 93, the highest in Asia. These oxbow lakes protect biodiversity, buffer Ganga floods, and enhance climate resilience for vulnerable communities under the “wise use” principle.
Click to View MoreRural communities depend on forests and tribal knowledge for survival, but unfair policies, land disputes, and knowledge loss threaten this balance. Addressing these issues through land rights, fair markets, and climate plans can ensure a future based on healthy forests and wise traditions.
Click to View MoreThe Environment Ministry has notified new guidelines under the Environment Protection Act that provide a procedure for dealing with chemically contaminated locations. The Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025, provide a legal framework for tackling chemical contamination that was previously lacking, although several such sites have already been discovered around the country.
Click to View MoreWhen corals are stressed by changes in temperature, light, or nutrition, they expel the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae from their tissues, causing them to turn entirely white. This occurrence is known as coral bleaching.
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